Torchlight (2018 film)
{{short description|Tamil-language drama thriller film directed by Abdul Majith}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date = October 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Torchlight
| image = Torchlight 2018 poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Abdul Majith
| producer = Abdul Majith
| writer = Abdul Majith
| starring = Sadha
Riythvika
Thirumurugan
| music =
| cinematography =
| studio = Confident Film Café
| distributor =
| released = {{film date|df=y|2018|09|07}}
| runtime = 127 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
Torchlight is a 2018 Indian Tamil-language drama thriller film produced, written and directed by Majith.{{Citation |title=Torch Light Movie: Showtimes, Review, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/torch-light/movieshow/65666031.cms |access-date=30 October 2019}} The film stars Sadha, Riythvika and Thirumurugan in the lead roles.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} The film is produced by the production banner Confident Film Café. The film is loosely based on 1970 Bollywood film Chetna and the plot is based on the true incidents which happened in the 1990s in the Tamil Nadu-Andhra highways.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2018/sep/03/torch-light-to-finally-see-the-light-of-the-day-7712.html |title=Torchlight to finally see the light of the day |website=Cinema Express |access-date=30 October 2019}} The film was launched in February 2017 and the principal photography of the film commenced on 23 February 2017.{{Cite web |url=https://silverscreen.in/news/sadha-joins-abdul-majiths-torchlight/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030061018/https://silverscreen.in/news/sadha-joins-abdul-majiths-torchlight/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 October 2019 |title=Sadha Joins Abdul Majith's 'Torchlight' |first=Sruthi |last=Sahasranaman |date=13 February 2017 |website=Silverscreen.in |language=en-US |access-date=30 October 2019}} The film was theatrical released on 7 September 2018 and received positive reviews. The film was also dubbed in Telugu version as Srimathi 21F.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mirchi9.com/movienews/once-popular-actress-sadha-in-vulgar-trailer-shrimati-21f/ |title=Once Popular Actress Sadha in Vulgar Trailer Shrimati 21F |last=K |first=Manaswini |date=18 October 2019 |website=mirchi9.com |language=en-US |access-date=30 October 2019}}
Plot
{{more plot|date=August 2021}}
The story revolves around a woman who has been forced to serve as a sex worker.
Cast
{{Cast listing|
- Sadha as Nilla, Shammugam's ex-wife and sex worker
- Dinesh Kumar
- Varun Udhay
- Sivasakthi
- Riythvika as Kavitha
- Master Sujatha
- Thirumurugan
- A. Venkatesh
- C. Ranganathan
- A. L. Raja
- Saravana Sakthi
- Soodhu Kavvum Sivakumar
- Bava Lakshmanan as Zamindar
- Meghana R
}}
Production
The filmmakers announced the project in February 2017 and revealed that the film would be set on the prostitution and about the lives of women who miserably suffer while working in the streets. The film was set in the backdrop of the early 1980s and 1990s. Actress Sadha was roped in to play the lead role and made her comeback into Kollywood industry after 2015 film Eli.{{Cite web |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2018/sep/11/the-sadha-interview--i-censored-torchlight-myself-did-not-want-film-to-look-sleazy-1870212.html |title=The Sadha interview {{!}} 'I censored 'Torchlight' myself; did not want film to look sleazy' |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=30 October 2019}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/remember-sadaa-from-anniyan-and-unnale-unnale-shes-back-on-the-big-screen-now/article24871864.ece |title=Sadaa back in the spotlight |last=Rao |first=Subha J. |date=5 September 2018 |work=The Hindu |access-date=30 October 2019 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}
The first look poster of the film was unveiled by the director on 1 December 2017.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/torchlight-first-look-watch-a-provocative-sadha-in-abdul-majith-s-new-film/story-90VlLhmyQELAtI0a5ZwJJO.html |title=Torchlight first look: Watch a provocative Sadha in Abdul Majith's new film |date=1 December 2017 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en |access-date=30 October 2019}}
Release
The film's release was delayed due to sanctions imposed by the Indian Censor Board, resulting in approximately 87 cuts and an initial refusal to certify the film on the grounds that it contained 'vulgar content'.{{Cite web |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2018/sep/04/torchlight-this-film-about-prostitutes-to-finally-see-the-light-of-day-after-battle-with-censor-boa-1867096.html |title=Torchlight: This film about prostitutes to finally see the light of day after battle with censor board |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=30 October 2019}} The director flew to Mumbai and cleared the censorship issue and the film received an A certificate from the Censor Board of Film Certification and was allowed to release.{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/sadha-s-torchlight-finally-cleared-by-cbfc-with-a-certificate-1289329-2018-07-18 |title=Sadha's Torchlight finally cleared by CBFC with A certificate |date=18 July 2018 |website=India Today |access-date=30 October 2019}}
=Critical reception=
Maalai Malar positively reviewed the film, rating it 83 out of 100.{{Cite news |url=https://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/review/2018/09/15141143/1191489/Torch-Light-Movie-Review.vpf |title=கணவனை காப்பாற்ற விபச்சாரத்தில் ஈடுபடும் மனைவியின் வாழ்க்கை போராட்டம் - டார்ச் லைட் விமர்சனம் |date=15 September 2018 |work=Maalai Malar |access-date=30 October 2019 |language=Tamil}} Samayam Tamil was less positive, rating it 5 out of 5 stars.{{Cite web |url=https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-review/torchlight-2018-tamil-movie-review-and-rating/moviereview/65713475.cms |title=Torch Light Review: டாா்ச் லைட் -Samayam Tamil |date=7 September 2018 |website=Tamil Samayam |language=ta |access-date=30 October 2019}}